Design Concept of the Day: Nissan Pivo3

Nissan is to unveil a nearer-to-production Pivo concept at the Tokyo Motor Show at the end of the month, reports Automotive News. The Pivo3 – successor to concepts shown in 2005 and 2007 – is a bubble car-style city runaround with a super-tight turning circle, though it can’t quite pivot entirely on its axis like its predecessors. It features in-wheel motors which allow each wheel to be turned independently, plus an automatic valet parking system – it can park itself in specially-designated spaces and recharge its battery, and will return to pick up its owner when summoned by smart-phone. It’s “very close to what the next step in urban mobility will be”, says Nissan.

Full story of my RAC Future Car Challenge experience here, btw. Was a bit disappointed that I didn’t get to drive the Prius Plug-In myself (well, the celebs always have to take precedence) but a good day out nonetheless.

Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has confirmed production – albeit small-scale – of a version of the XL1 streamliner (below) by 2013. He told Automotive News Europe that the two-seater, which weighs only 795kg and which returns over 280mpg, will go into limited manufacture. The XL1 features an 800cc two-cylinder diesel engine, seven-speed gearbox, electric motor and lithium-ion battery in its 74hp hybrid powertrain – and is said to be capable of 0-60 in about 12 seconds. It has a range of nearly 550km, with 35km in all-electric mode.

And Toyota has confirmed limited production of a fuel cell vehicle; just a few thousand a year, however, with price tags of some 100,000 euros… (Automotive News Europe).

Heavy-duty truck-makers Peterbilt and Kenworth have teamed up with Capstone Turbine to develop a hybrid powertrain for their load-haulers, using Capstone’s C65 microturbines in place of a conventional engine. Press release posted at AutoblogGreen.

Toyota has won the 2011 Green Manufacturing Award from the World Trade Group, due to the energy-efficiency of its plants at Burnaston and Deeside (Next Green Car).

Daihatsu says its e:S tech gives fuel economy savings of up to 40%; in the Mira city car, weight has been reduced by 60kg, enabling it to return over 70mpg. Detail-changes to the car include lighter seat frames and thinner door trim, plus a more efficient CVT gearbox which operates at lower hydraulic pressure; aerodynamics have been optimised as well, and there’s stop-start plus regenerative braking. Engine tweaks include modified piston rings, oil seals and timing chains. Such measures will next be applied to the Move and Tanto models (Autobeat Daily).

More on the hybrid Mitsubishi Evo at Automotive News – in-wheel motors under consideration.